Small Worlds VIII (Kleine Welten VIII) from Small Worlds (Kleine Welten)

Small Worlds VIII (Kleine Welten VIII) from Small Worlds (Kleine Welten) by Vasily Kandinsky is a pivotal example of the artist’s exploration of graphic media during his tenure at the Bauhaus school. Executed in 1922, this striking abstract composition is one of only two woodcuts included in the comprehensive Small Worlds portfolio. The complete set features twelve prints, allowing Kandinsky to systematically investigate the expressive capabilities of different graphic techniques, including six lithographs and four drypoints, applied to his evolving visual vocabulary of non-objective abstraction.

The composition of Small Worlds VIII showcases Kandinsky's mature approach to abstraction. It utilizes sharp, decisive lines and robust black-and-white forms characteristic of the woodcut medium, contrasting with the softer, more lyrical effects often seen in the drypoints and lithographs within the same portfolio. This preference for clean geometry and structural solidity marks a significant phase in his output, moving away from the purely intuitive compositions of the preceding decade toward more systematic formal organization.

Although a Russian artist who was working primarily in Germany in 1922, the classification of the work within French culture reflects its substantial influence on and integration into the broader European avant-garde movement that centered heavily around Paris in the early 1920s. This graphic work is pivotal for understanding how Kandinsky sought to equate line and abstract form with spiritual expression, balancing dynamic movement with an underlying geometric structure. As a print, the Small Worlds series was vital in disseminating Kandinsky’s theories globally. This exemplary woodcut is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, serving as a critical document of Vasily Kandinsky's contributions to the development of modern abstract art.